Bracket for mounting guardrails



March 12, 1940. G. A. GLEAsoN Err AL BRACKET FOR MOUNTING GUARDRAILS 2 Sheets-Shet l Filed April 16, 1937 Invenrs 6505654. @L5/@50N ,4L/55,97' P. Ha VDE/v.

Maxch 12, 1940. G. A. GLEAsoN Er Al.

BRACKET FOR MOUNTING GUARDRAILS Filed April 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JM. NJ am 00M. #a www www@ lap Patented Mar. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRACKET FOR MOUNTING GUARDRAILS Application April 16, 1937, Serial No. 137,340

7 Claims. (Cl. 24S-66) This invention relates to road guards and, more particularly, to a bracket for mounting guardrails on their supports.

Ever since road guards were rst used along highways, vehicles have repeatedly collided with them. These vehicles must be stopped or turned aside by the road guard with the smallest possible injury to them, ltheir occupants and the road guards. Attempts have been made to solve this problem by mounting the guardrails in such a manner that they gradually absorbl the orce of the collision. Heretofore, however, the problem has not been satisfactorily solved.

One of the objects of the present invention is to secure guardrails to their supports by novel brackets which are inexpensively maintained in a usable condition.

, The above and further objects Will be made apparent by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure l is an elevation of a device of the in-l vention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the device of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a plan of the device of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modification of the device o Figure l;

Figure 5 is a plan o1" a further modification of the device of Figure l;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the device of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in elevation, of the device oi Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 indicates generally a bracket which mounts a plurality of guardrails 4 on a support S. The guardrails Il may be made from a wire rope, a cable or a strand, as desired. The bracket 2 includes a rubber block 8, which is elastically deformable in all directions but Which offers considerable resistance while being deformed. The rubber block 8 is substantially triangular in crosssection and may be madeV solid, although We have shown holes 9 therein to reduce the volume of rubber required and to increase the elastic deformability o the block. Of course, the rubber block S is made ci such composition that it offers considerable resistance to shocks or blows upon the guardrails 4 but still retains its elasticity and springs back to its. original shape when the distorting force is removed from the guardrails 4. The rubber block funtions to snub the guardrails fl and eiect a relatively gradual shock absorption upon a collision of a moving object therewith. Another feature of the rubber block 8 over known types of brackets isthat it is elastically deformable in every direction. Whilewe have described a rubber block, We do not Wish to be limited thereto as the block can be made of any material that has characteristics similar 5 to rubber.

A plurality o1 slits l0 are cut in the rubber block 8 and apertures I2 are formed' in the surfaces of the rubber block exposed by the slits l0.

The slits l@ permit the rubber block 8 to be 10 pulled apart an amount sufficient that the guardrails l may be inserted in the apertures l2. In some cases, the apertures l2 should be lined with split sleeves lll which are molded in the rubber block 8 and protect the guardrails 4 from any in- 15 :furious effect of the ingredients present in the rubber block.

In order to positively hold the guardrails l in the rubber block 8, a hole i6 is cut through the rubber block 8 adjacent the apertures I2 sub- 20 stantially perpendicular to the slits l0. A bolt i8, or a similar device, is received in the hole i6 and can be tightened on the rubber block to retain the guardrails Il in the apertures l2.

Threaded bushings 2Q may be molded in the rear portion of the rubber block 8 for engaging with means on the support 6 to positively secure the rubber block thereto.

Another improved bracket 22 is represented in Figure 4 of the drawings. The bracket 22 is com- 30 posed of a plurality of rubber blocks 2t and 25 which have the same characteristics as the rubber block 8. The rubber blocks 24 are provided with recesses 25 in the top and bottom thereof, While the rubber blocks 25 are provided with 35 recesses 2l in either the top or bottom thereof, depending upon their position in the bracket 22. The recesses serve to position the guardrails 4 in the bracket 22. The recesses 2G and 2l are designed to meet when the rubber blocks 24 and 25 are assembled into the bracket 22.

The rubber blocks 24 and 25 are provided With holes 28 which align when the rubber blocks are placed together. Then means, such as bolts 3D, are placed through the holesI 28 and tightened 45 to hold theguardrails 4 in the recesses 25 and 21 and to hold the bracket 22 together. The recesses 26 and 21 may be lined with split sleeves 32 if desired, and threaded bushings 34 are molded in a plurality of the rubber blocks 24 and 25. By providing a plurality of individual rubber blocks and building up the bracket 22 in this manner, the bracket can easily be adapted to receive 2, 3, 4 or more guardrails therein.

In Figures' 5, 6 and l of the drawings, We have shown a bracket which is adapted to elastically position the guardrails d. The bracket 36 includes a rubber block 35S which may be hollow and which has a plurality of flanged, threaded bushings it molded therein. A substantially V- shaped metal plate 42 having a plurality of parallel slots @Il is carried by the rubber block with the apex of the rnetal plate extending therefrom. Means, such as boltsI dit, engage with the bushings d@ to positively secure the metal plate di? to the rubber block 38. The guardrails l are received in the slots it and are held therein by a pin 6.18, or other suitable means, which prevents the guardrails from moving from the slots dil. The rubber block 38 has holes 5i! through the rear portion thereof and bolts 52 pass therethrough to secure the bracket to the support d.

Each of the brackets which we have illustrated in Ithe drawings and described in the above specification is capable of snubbing repeated impacts, shocks or blows on the guardrails ll. rEhe elastic nature orn the material forming the brackets adapts them to receive repeated blows without being injured in any mann i'. As the expense involved in repairing ordinary road guards after a vehicle has collided therewith is usually a considerable item, the-fact that our novel brackets ordinarily will not reduire any repair Work thereon after a collision makes them highly desirable for use in mounting road guards. As examples of such changes, the rubber compound may be substituted by compressed inastic or asphalt base compositions or liber compositions such as that commercially known as Celotex- However, rubber or rubber compounds are considered preferable.

While we have shown and described several modifications of our novel. bracket, it will be appreciated that We do not wish to be limited exried by said block for facilitating the anchoring thereof, and means associated with said block for retaining said guardrails therein.

3. A bracket for a road guard including a plurality of stiff resilient blocks adapted to position guardrails therebetween, and means associated with said blocks for securing said blocks together and retaining said guardrails therebetween.

4. A bracket for a road guard including a rubbei' block, a substantially V-shaped metal plate having a plurality of parallel slots therein secured to said rubber block, said slots being adapted to receive guardrails therein, and means for positively holding said guardrails in said slots.

5. A bracket for a road guard including a rubber block, a plurality of threaded bushingsl molded in said rubber block, a substantially V-shaped metal plate having a plurality of parallel slots therein, said slots being adapted to receive guardrails therein, means for engaging with said bushings and securing said metal plate to said rubber block, and means' for positively holding said guardrails in said slots.

6. A bracket for mounting a guardrail offset from a road guard post, said bracket being made of material having the physical characteristics of elastic rubber compound and being shaped to afford a sufficient thickness oi said material for elastic deformation when the guardrail mounted thereby is struck by colliding trailic to provide the elasticity necessary to maintain the guardrail offset from the road guard post during the collision.

'7. A bracket for mounting a guardrail offset from a road guard post, said bracket being made of material having the physical characteristics of elastic rubber compound and being shaped to afford a suflicient thickness of said material for elastic deformation when the guardrail mounted thereby is struck by colliding traffic to provide the elasticity necessary to maintain the guard- 

